Written by Azzy Hinton
Austin City Limits 2019 Weekend 2
Can anyone say cold front? Weekend two of Austin City Limits (ACL) began with chilly temperatures and cloudy skies that threatened Texas natives to stay inside. Good thing they didn’t because ACL 2019 came to show off and she truly did! There were many notable moments during the festival, Tame Impala’s closing set, fireworks during Childish Gambino, Billie Eillish losing an earring while performing, but let’s focus on a few Texas stars who stole the show!
Kasey Musgraves (Golden, TX)
With her colorful, floral dress and boots to match, the golden girl from Golden shone her way through her performance bringing the Texas spirit to the second weekend. She captivated the crowd and shouted out her Texas roots with festive a Yee Haw chant. Her performance felt very vulnerable as most of her songs were stripped of their productive sounds and she alluded to her fears with performing at such a large venue in light of recent gun violence.
Gary Clark Jr. (Austin, TX)
The Austin local lived up to his live performance awards by giving a true rock-roll show Saturday evening. With his signature guitar and cowboy hat, Gary Clark Jr. won over the hearts of the crowd with his unique blend of blues, rock, and hip-hop and his Texas swagger. He ended his set with a riveting cover of Come Together by the Beatles, bringing the crowd together in singing along. Bonus info: Matthew McConaughey was spotted singing along too!
PNTHN (all over Texas)
This boy-band rap group surprised the crowd with an energetic performance combining traditional Houston screwston sounds with modern trap. The dynamic group made up of rappers, DJs, producers, a graphic designer, and a sound engineer, filled up the stage and created an environment that had everyone vibing and moshing along.
Ley Line (Austin, TX)
The performance by this lovely quartet of Austinites was one of my favorite performances during the festival. Paired with the balmy weather in the early Sunday afternoon, their soft melodies and hypnotic rhythms made for a dreamy set that you couldn’t help but sway to. The fusion of Brazilian, Latin American, and West African folk and soul was evident in both their material from their debut album, Field Notes, and in their newest single Oxum (which you should definitely listen to!). I’m looking forward to hearing more from them!
Lizzo (technically Detroit, but Houston has claimed her)
How could we not mention with Lizzo?! Her set was bright, fun, and full of self love. Although she was given one of the smaller stages, Lizzo gathered one of the largest crowds in ACL history. Another stage broadcasted her performance to ensure people far in the back had the chance to view her lively show. Everyone in the crowd danced and grooved along with the Houston-native, and even drowned out her voice when singing along. This was by far one of the most joyous and fun performances at ACL and managed to send the festival off on a high note.
